When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus, there are at least two ever-present dangers.

​​As we consider the events of the week of Jesus' crucifixion, let's also consider one of Jesus' final acts of mercy on the cross; a pardon and a promise given to a criminal. 

​This raises a question not just for repentant thieves, but for all believers. What is paradise? Does this promise to the thief apply to all Christians? Where do Christians go when we die?

This is the glorious truth of the new covenant that God promises and keeps in Christ. This is the same glorious truth that also creates a new people, a new covenant community made up of regenerate, redeemed, repentant sinners; the church. 

​Let's consider this new covenant promised by God in Jeremiah 31 and how it's reality informs our church covenant . 

​There’s a trend of talking about the current year as if it were a real thing. Especially during difficulties. As if the year 2020 is the cause of everything that happened in 2020.

​​In the incarnation of Jesus, there is so much to savor. And we should strive to savor it all.

Imagine two weeks ago, sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal saying, “Wow, there is so much food here! I’m just not going to eat anything.” You wouldn’t say that. Instead, you might take one bite at a time, enjoying everything on the table. This should be our approach to the story of the incarnation of Jesus. The truths in this story are best savored one bite at a time. 

This is a famous line from the beginning of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, said in annoyance by Ebenezer Scrooge to his jovial nephew Fred. While Scrooge barks this reply to justify not celebrating Christmas at all, it nevertheless raises questions: How should Christians keep Christmas? Can we keep it in our own ways? Are they’re ways we shouldn’t keep it?

​​This year, you may have a harder time being thankful at Thanksgiving.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--
of whom I am the worst.
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Advent is the twenty-five days leading up to Christmas Day that anticipates the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world. This year, it begins officially on Sunday, November 29. It is meant to be an intensifier of the joy we have at Christmas.

In 2019, our church's Advent theme was A Thrill of Hope, a lyric taken from the popular Christmas song, "O Holy Night." As a church, we celebrated the hope that God has not left us in our sin, but has sent His Son to earth as a man to be an atoning sacrifice for our sin. 

It seems only fitting, given the year that 2020 has been, to consider the next lyric of the song; a weary world rejoices. This year, perhaps more than even, a weary world needs reason to rejoice.

The church has reason to celebrate Christmas with truer joy than the world. 
That’s why we celebrate Advent; so that at Christmas, we would say, “How can we make everything point ourselves and our families, our children to the joy we have in Christ? How can we build joyful anticipation for the celebration of his arrival? How can we put on display the real, only, true, lasting, delightful joy in Jesus that was purchased for us on the cross that puts every other plastic joy to shame?" 

May these advent resources help to intensify your joy in Christ this Christmas season!